Disclaimers: Naruto is not mine, sadly. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, sexual assault, torture, sexual content (yaoi), & angst.

It's All In Your Head

Chapter 8: Stay

--

"You can let go of my hand now."

Sasuke glanced down at their entangled fingers, then at Naruto's face, seeing the obvious discomfort. "Does it bother you?" he asked innocently.

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "You know it does."

The real question is, why doesn't it bother you?

Sasuke gave a sly grin and yanked the blonde closer. "Would you really like to know?" he asked smoothly.

"I don't know if you're trying to cheer me up or if you got hit in the head during that fight, but you're acting seriously weird right now."

Sasuke shrugged, then glanced at the blonde again. You gonna tell me the real reason you don't want me to hold your hand?

Naruto rolled his eyes. You mean besides the fact that it's weird and I just don't fucking want to?

Yes. Besides those reasons.

Naruto looked to either side of them, noting the angry looks on the villagers' faces. Several of them were whispering to each other, with harsh voices and sharp tongues, as they passed. Naruto caught a few of the things they said. Meaning Sasuke did too.

"Sick.."

"And in broad daylight.."

"That monster with our last Uchiha..?"

"Why would he touch that thing?"

"Think he seduced him? No, more likely a curse. Someone like that would never willingly-"

"That Uchiha should know better-"

Naruto dropped his head, letting heavy blonde curtains fall over sad blue eyes. "Sasuke. Let go of my hand."

The raven stopped and pulled their clenched hands back, drawing the blonde close. He reached out and gently lifted his chin, forcing their eyes to meet. "And if I told you it doesn't bother me, would that make a difference?"

Naruto's mouth went dry. What is he thinking? "Well, it- it bothers me."

I'll only end up dragging you down with me.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm.. I'm not convinced." He released his hold on the blonde's chin and continued to drag him down the street, despite his protests and the seething villagers watching them. Which reminds me. Sasuke spun around, facing off against the villagers.

"S-Sasuke? What the hell are you doing?!"

The raven looked down at the blonde, studying him, before lifting his gaze back to the people all around them. When he raised his head, his eyes were the color of fresh blood and filled with unconcealed rage.

"The next fucking person who touches Naruto Uzumaki deals with me." His voice was deep, darker than anything Naruto had ever heard from him.

He was.. terrifying.

"Sa-"

He yanked his arm back, pulling Naruto behind him. "If you don't believe me, now's your chance. Fucking try me."

A heavy silence settled among the villagers. Their faces paled as they faced the wrath of the Uchiha. They kept their mouths pressed tight, glancing at each other with uncertainty in their eyes. No one made a move. They were often cruel to the blonde, but knew better than to anger anyone with a sharingan.

"If I find out that any of you have harmed him, I'll end you." And with that he pulled the blonde towards the Uchiha manor and away from the life he once had. He could feel Naruto staring at him as they took the walkway up to the front door. Yes?

"What- what the hell was that?"

Sasuke's eyes hardened. "Do you have a problem with what I said?"

"Sasuke, you can't just threaten the whole damn town!"

"Obviously I can."

Naruto stared at him incredulously. "I'm being serious."

Sasuke unlocked his front door and pulled the blonde inside. He pushed him back against the door, dropping his hand against it as he leaned in. Naruto opened his mouth, but his breath caught in his throat as the raven drew closer.

"So am I" he murmured.

He dropped his other hand down, close to the blonde's waist. Naruto flinched, but Sasuke just locked the door behind him.

Sasuke, you're.. you're really close.

Am I?

Naruto pushed against his chest, but it had little effect on him. Don't.. he swallowed, don't make me regret coming here.

"I stood up for you, you know. I made sure those villagers would back off. So why are you acting like I did something wrong?"

Because you shouldn't get involved.

"Why?"

"Can you just.. back up a little?"

Sasuke studied him, his walls sealed tight against Naruto's prying. "Every time I do, you run from me. I'm tired of you keeping me in the dark."

"Do you really think this is how you should go about it?" Naruto tried and failed to push him away again, and instead settled for glaring at him. You can't force me to talk, Sasuke.

"I don't want to force you. I just want you to talk to me."

"Well, maybe you should start by not cornering me in a dark hallway. I find I'm much more likely to talk when I'm not feeling fucking attacked."

That seemed to get through to him. With one last searching look, Sasuke turned away and padded down the hall.

Naruto hesitated, his mind shooting back to the last time he followed the raven home. When he forced this fucking jutsu on him. But he also knew his options were pretty limited at the moment. Should I test my luck with Sasuke and hope he doesn't try anything else? Naruto wondered. Or do I test my luck out there with no where to go.. and those guys still looking for me.

Sasuke's charcoal eyes burned with growing anger as the blonde's thoughts invaded his own.

Christ, Naruto. Can you really compare me being irritated with you to being homeless and facing those fucking monsters?

Naruto sighed and headed down the hall to join him. "I don't know, Sasuke. Can you stop attacking me long enough to figure it out?"

Sasuke glared over at him from behind the kitchen counter. "Do you know how many times a day I want to punch you?"

The feeling's mutual, asshole.

"Just sit down and shut up."

Naruto opened his mouth, a rude rebuttal on the tip of his tongue, but Sasuke cut him off before he could share it. "I'm making you something to eat."

He snapped his mouth closed and dropped down on a chair. "Fine. But only because I'm starving."

You're always starving.

Is that a comment about my weight?

Sasuke glanced back at him, then refocused on chopping various ingredients. It's a comment about your lack of weight, Naruto. I thought the Konoha elders were supposed to send you funds to live off of.

It was how Sasuke managed to live alone. He assumed it would be the same for him.

They do, Naruto started, it's just that- He paused. It doesn't matter. I'm hungry. You're making food. And that's why I'm staying. For now. Who cares about the rest.

Sasuke looked over at the blonde. "I do."

Naruto lifted his head and met his eyes. "Why now..? You never did before."

This is just because you saw me looking weak and pathetic, Sasuke. It'll fade. And then everything will go back to the way it was.

"Don't presume to know how I feel" Sasuke spat out, his voice sharper than he meant for it to be.

Naruto raised his eyebrows, surprised by the Uchiha's outburst.

"Whatever" Sasuke growled, returning to his cooking, "keep your fucking secrets." For now.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Anymore threats you feel like making while I'm here, Teme?"

"Oh, I have plenty" Sasuke replied. "But I can wait until after dinner."

Naruto leaned back in his chair and rolled his eyes at the ceiling. With a heavy sigh, he brought his attention back to the cocky raven with the ridiculously short temper.

".. What a gentleman."

--

The two ate, their mouths silent as their constant banter continued in their heads.

God, you're frustrating, Sasuke thought, irritation thick in his voice. Can we just try to get along? For once?

You're such a fucking hypocrite, Naruto threw back at him. You only want to stop when I have something to say.

"This is stupid."

Naruto tossed his chopsticks down on his plate and leaned back, crossing his arms tight against his chest. "You're telling me."

"How about we do something besides talk. Clearly we can't do that without being at each other's throat."

Naruto considered this for a moment. "Wanna spar?"

Sasuke smirked. "Definitely."

The two cleared their dishes and stepped out into the large backyard. Various targets were already set up along the perimeter, and several extra kunai layed strewn across the grounds.

"Your house is fucking ridiculous" Naruto muttered.

"Just because I live here doesn't mean it's mine."

Naruto was surprised by his reaction but kept his thoughts and his comments to himself. "Ready?" he asked, taking a fighting stance.

"Just go, dobe."

The blonde, always quick to act, rushed in- a kunai held tight in his grasp. Sasuke met him halfway, clashing his own weapon against his. The two leaned in, their jaws tight, eyes burning.

I won't go easy on you, Sasuke warned.

Good. Don't.

Sasuke leapt back, his deep crimson eyes spinning as they tracked Naruto's movement.

Naruto drew his hands together in a familiar formation. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" The yard filled with Narutos, all of them bearing knives that gleamed with the light of the setting sun.

Sasuke's eyes gleamed with them as he narrowed onto the original. "Nice try." He rushed in and cut down blonde shadow clones as he made his way to the real one.

You still have a long way to go, dobe.

Sasuke drew out a handful of shuriken and threw them. They slammed into a shocked Naruto, but he popped into a cloud of smoke. It cleared, revealing a log in his place. Better. But still not enough. He shifted out of view and, channeling chakra to his feet, raced up the tree at the far end of his yard, silently approaching the blonde crouched in the branches.

Meanwhile, Sasuke's own shadow clone stood confidently in the clearing, hands moving fast. "Gokakyu no Jutsu!" A fireball erupted from the clone's mouth, wiping out the remaining Narutos. The original went to move from the shadows when a kunai pressed close to his throat.

"You'll have to do better than that if you want to defeat me."

Dammit.

Sasuke withdrew his kunai and sat down across from the disappointed blonde. "Have you always been a slow learner?"

"Shut up, Teme."

We could train together you know.

Naruto eyed him suspiciously. "Is this some kind of weird pity thing?"

The Uchiha rolled his eyes. "No. This is a 'if we're on the same team I don't want your fuck ups to kill me' thing."

Naruto jumped to his feet. "Hey, asshole! We don't all have the luxury of having a giant training course in our back yard."

"I'm aware" Sasuke calmly replied. "That's why I'm offering it to you."

Naruto wasn't sure how to respond to that. "That's, well.. you-"

"Well put, as usual."

Naruto crossed his arms. "Whatever... let's just spar."

The two went back to their practice, attacking one another well into the night, until they both collapsed in the middle of the clearing.

That was fun, Naruto thought, staring up at the starry night sky above them.

Sasuke looked up with him, feeling lighter than usual. Yeah.

Naruto glanced over at the Uchiha lying in the grass by his side, then back up at the stars trapped in a blanket of darkness. His chest suddenly tightened. Now what?

Naruto, I want you to stay here.

Blue eyes widened with surprise and shot over to stare at the raven. "What?"

Sasuke met his gaze. "I want you to stay here. With me."

To.. train some more?

Sasuke sighed. I really need to spell it out for you?

Naruto just continued to stare.

Fine. "I want you to live here."

The blonde sat up fast, and Sasuke joined him. "Why..?" he whispered.

Does there have to be a reason?

Naruto quirked a brow. There isn't?

I want you to stay. Simple as that.

Naruto looked over at him again. "Sasuke, we don't even get along. Why the hell would you want me to live with you?"

"It's a huge house, Naruto. If we want to avoid each other, we can still do that pretty easily."

Yeah, but live with Sasuke..? Is that really such a good idea?

The Uchiha's short temper was starting to get shorter. Do you have a fucking better one?

Naruto pushed his fingers through his unruly locks. "No.. I guess I don't."

Then it's settled. Sasuke rose to his feet. "Come on, I'll show you your room."

This is already awkward.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Just come on."

He hefted the blonde to his feet and led the way back inside and down a long hallway. "That's my room" he muttered gesturing to one of the first doors, "you've already seen that bathroom", he said, pointing out the one where he had bandaged Naruto's hand, "that's another bathroom, and these are all spare bedrooms. Choose whichever one you want."

Naruto chose the one at the far end of the hallway, clearly putting as much distance as he could between him and his new roommate. Sasuke noticed but kept his thoughts to himself.

He followed the blonde into his new room and pointed out all of the spare clothes and things that now belonged to him. When he was done, he looked over and saw that Naruto was back to staring at him.

"Yes?"

"I'm just.. surprised. You've been so different from how you usually are."

Deep obsidian eyes hardened. "Just because I keep my thoughts to myself doesn't mean I'm suddenly a different person. You just don't know me."

Yeah.. I guess I don't.

Sasuke walked over and dropped down on the bed, folding his hands behind his head. He patted the spot next to him, silently encouraging the blonde to join him.

After some hesitation he did, laying down on the huge bed, staring at the same ceiling, still not used to the fact that Sasuke was right there with him.

"I did say we should get to know each other.."

You did.

"Ok, what do you want to know?" Sasuke asked softly.

Naruto considered this. "Why do you live alone?"

The Uchiha stiffened. "I don't have anyone to live with."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah. I figured out that much. I mean, why?"

Sasuke clenched his jaw tight, forcing back the rush of emotions and images that threatened to plague both of their minds. Naruto saw a pair of sharingan eyes, but then the Uchiha's walls were up- shutting out the rest.

"Sasuke..?"

"They're dead, Naruto- ok? Let's just leave it at that."

Naruto shot his head to the side. Was it because of the Nine Tails?

Sasuke looked over at him, surprised. "No. Why would you ask that..?"

Naruto quickly looked away, putting up his own walls. "No reason. It's just.. a lot of people died that day."

Hmmm..

Naruto forced his mind to stay blank.

Sasuke was still curious, but it didn't look like he was going to get any answers out of him yet. "No. They were still alive when that happened."

He felt Naruto's relief rush through him.

"Why do you seem relieved that the Nine Tails didn't kill them?"

Naruto flinched as Sasuke's words echoed in his head. Kill them.

Sasuke's watched his face for a reaction, trying to read what little he saw there. "Does it have anything to do with why you're an orphan too?"

Naruto turned away. "Can we just drop it?"

You're the one who brought it up.

Please, just drop it.

"Do the villagers know something that I don't?", Sasuke suddenly asked.

Naruto's chest tightened. He sat up but didn't dare look at the raven. "No."

An obvious lie, Sasuke thought. He pushed himself up, tilting his head to try to get a better look at the blonde who was clearly avoiding his eyes. "There has to be some reason why they're so awful to you."

Not everyone can be the 'oh so perfect Uchiha'. Sometimes people are just not liked.

"This is a lot more than just not liking someone. Naruto." He grabbed the blonde's arm and turned him around. "Why do the villagers hate you?"

Naruto looked down. If you knew, you'd hate me too.

Dark eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

Naruto looked horrified. Terrified. He didn't mean to let that slip. And now Sasuke was all the more curious.

Painfully so.

The blonde jerked his arm free, got to his feet, and backed away from him. "I don't want to talk about this."

Then just think about it. He tried to push his way into Naruto's thoughts, but he forced him out before he could get very far

"Stay out of my head, Sasuke."

The rejected raven rose to his feet and took a small step towards him. "Do you really think I'm just one more idiot villager in this town?" He took another step. "That I can't think for myself?"

Naruto shook his head and took another step back. "That's not what I'm saying."

"Then why can't you tell me?"

Naruto got quiet, not trusting his voice or his thoughts. It aggravated the raven to no end. "I had your back when those guys came after you. What makes you think I'll turn on you when I find out?"

"Because it's not the same!" Naruto shouted, desperation and cold panic rushing through him. "That was their fault, they were the monster. This time I'm the one who-" Naruto shook his head. The villagers aren't completely wrong.

"I'm done with the cryptic shit." Sasuke pushed hard against Naruto's closed off thoughts, forcing his way inside.

Naruto grabbed his head and dropped down into a crouch, eyes screwed up tight as he tried to get him out. "S-Sasuke, stop!"

"You said I was the only one who cares, so fucking let me help you! Tell me what's going on!"

Naruto growled, a deep animalistic sound and suddenly lunged at the Uchiha, catching him off guard. They fell to the ground, Naruto landing on top of him. He swung a fist, and Sasuke caught it. But he didn't expect for it to be a fake-out. Naruto pulled his arm back and slammed his other fist into Sasuke's face. The Uchiha's head snapped to the side, his jaw on fire, his mind back in his own head- filled with shock and pain. Before he had time to react, Naruto grabbed his wrists and forced them down by either side of his head, pinning Sasuke to the floor.

Dammit, Naruto. Why can't you just let me in?

"Because I don't want to lose the only fucking person I have!!"

Sasuke stared up at him, shocked. "You're.. afraid of losing me..?"

Naruto didn't want to admit it, but it was too late to take it back now. "Yes, ok. I know we fight all the damn time, and you can be a real jerk, but you're-"

my best friend.

Naruto sighed and released Sasuke's wrists. He moved to get off of the raven, but Sasuke pushed himself up and grabbed his arm, halting him.

"I.. I feel the same way."

".. Really?"

Sasuke looked away, suddenly feeling embarrassed. He let go of the blonde and sat up, pushing his hair back. You're important to me too. I mean, why do you think I did all of this in the first place?

"Huh."

The raven lifted an eyebrow.

"I guess I just assumed that Uchihas don't have feelings."

I think you'd be surprised.

Naruto helped him to his feet and took a step back. They stared at each other in awkward silence for a while until Naruto couldn't stand it any longer. He cleared his throat, cutting through the tension. "Ok, well- I think that's all the 'getting to know each other' that I can take right now."

"Uhh.. yeah. I guess I'll just see you in the morning" Sasuke said, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Naruto's feelings echoed the Uchiha's, and he was relieved that he called it a night first. "Ok. Well.. goodnight."

Night.

Sasuke walked over to the door but paused when Naruto called out to him. "Hm?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.

Naruto gave a small nervous smile as he scratched the back of his head, a habit the blonde has had for quite some time. "Umm, thanks. For letting me stay here that is. And for.. earlier."

"You don't need to thank me" he said quietly.

After all.. that's what friends are for.

Author Note:

Shit- another anticlimactic one..

I'm sorry!! I just love writing their back and forth banter soooo much!! I mayyyy have gotten a little carried away with it, though. I don't know. Maybe some of you enjoy it as much as I do. Hopefully?

Anyways, thanks for tolerating it, and please don't leave!! The story is still going, and more angst is still on the way. :)